NEWS

Paul Frew MLA with Tara Cunningham, manager Causeway Coast Dog Rescue, with Archie the dog taking centre stage, as they lead the pathway for Rubys Law in Northern Ireland. Animals used to control and terrorise victims of domestic abuse could soon receive stronger legal protection in Northern Ireland under proposed changes tabled by North Antrim MLA Paul Frew. The amendments to the Justice Bill would make it an aggravating offence to hurt — or threaten to hurt — an animal con

The Dark Hedges, near Armoy, County Antrim UUP Alderman Sandra Hunter has voiced concerns that a council team responsible for overseeing the Dark Hedges has “disappeared” ahead of the busy tourist season. Speaking at May’s meeting of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Leisure and Development Committee, Ald Hunter raised a motion seeking clarity on the council’s current role in managing the internationally recognised tourist attraction on Bregagh Road near Armoy. She n

Site location of new social and affordable housing in Ballyvoy, County Antrim Plans for a new housing development within the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) are set to be considered by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Planning Committee next week. The outline application seeks permission for 14 social and affordable homes on lands west of St Patrick’s Culfeightrin Church on Cushendall Road in Ballyvoy. A planning officer’s report sai

22-year-old Cameron Mullen from Kilrea A 22-year-old man from Kilrea has been sentenced to more than two years in prison after police uncovered a series of online child sexual offences involving young teenage boys contacted through Instagram. Cameron Mullen was sentenced at Dungannon Crown Court on Wednesday, May 20, after pleading guilty to seven offences including sexual communication with a child and inciting children to engage in sexual activity online. The case emerged a

A major new sports bar and restaurant promising live sport, late-night entertainment and a “true taste of the Causeway Coast” has officially opened inside The Portrush Atlantic Hotel. The venue, called Another Round, replaces the hotel’s former Atlantic Bar and forms part of a wider refurbishment programme at the landmark Portrush seafront hotel. Designed as a new social hub in the centre of the seaside town, the concept combines live sports coverage, food, drinks and enterta

Police have launched a malicious communications investigation after threatening emails sent to schools and businesses across County Antrim caused widespread disruption and alarm on Tuesday. The PSNI confirmed six schools were affected in areas including Randalstown, Ballycraigy and Antrim town, while multiple businesses also received the email — the majority in Antrim, with one business impacted in the Ballycastle area. Detectives are now examining whether the incident is lin

Twenty-four year-old Declan McCook, founder of Niche Coastal A young entrepreneur from Ballycastle has been recognised among the top emerging businesses across Scotland and Northern Ireland after securing silver in the prestigious HSBC & FSB Start-Up Business Awards. At just 24 years old, Declan McCook, founder of Niche Coastal, was named runner-up in one of the competition’s most competitive categories — a significant achievement for a business launched little more than a ye

Participants who gathered at 4am on Saturday morning in Ballymoney for the town’s second annual Dawn Walk More than 200 people stepped out onto the streets of Ballymoney before sunrise on Saturday morning, 16 May, as a growing community movement around mental health and connection returned for its second annual Dawn Walk. Organised by BEAM – Building Empowerment & Awareness to Mind, the early morning event saw participants gather at the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre at 4am befor

The haunting rasping call of one of Northern Ireland’s rarest birds is set to become the soundtrack to a unique summer outing on Rathlin Island next month, as visitors are invited to experience the elusive corncrake in its natural habitat during a guided picnic event hosted by the RSPB Northern Ireland. Taking place on Thursday, June 11, the ‘Rathlin Island Corncrake Picnic’ will give attendees the chance to explore the island’s spectacular landscape alongside the RSPB’s Rath

VR Mesolithic hut from the Mountsandel virtual reality experience An internationally significant archaeological site in County Londonderry is set to undergo its first major survey in half a century, as experts prepare to dig deeper into the ancient secrets of Mountsandel. The new investigation at Mountsandel — regarded as one of Ireland’s earliest known human settlements — will form part of a wider heritage project backed through the Causeway Coast and Glens PEACEPLUS Action

Carhill Cars in Garvagh The owner of a County Londonderry car showroom destroyed in a suspected arson attack has described the devastation caused to his business as “gut-wrenching”, saying the premises now need to be completely demolished and rebuilt. Liam Rafferty, owner of Carhill Cars in Garvagh, said he was left “heartbroken” after fire ripped through the business in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Despite the scale of the destruction, he said he was thankful nobody

Margarette O’Donnell, a peer trainer with The Recovery College, has described how her own mental health journey inspired her to help others. For years, Margarette O’Donnell felt she was “losing the battle day by day” with her mental health — hiding her struggles behind a brave face while privately feeling hopeless about the future. Now, during Mental Health Awareness Week, the Northern Trust Recovery College peer trainer is sharing her deeply personal story in the hope it enc

Pictured at the launch of the Death Positive Library in Coleraine, including Fiona Gilmour, Northern Trust Macmillan Service Improvement Lead, Sharon Williams, Project Manager, Compassionate Communities NI, the Deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Alderman Richard Stewart-Brown, Seamus Coyle, the Northern Trust’s Lead Nurse Consultant Adult Learning Disability Team, Anne O’Hagan, Macmillan Community Palliative Care Service Improvement Facilitator, Diane M

North West 200 race 1 Supertwin Sportbike Race 2: Storm Stacey celebrates winning the final race of the day the second Superbike race during the International North West 200. (All photos: Stephen Davison/Pacemaker Press unless otherwise stated) Storm Stacey delivered one of the standout performances in recent North West 200 history on Saturday as the English newcomer stunned the road racing world with two race wins, a lap record, and a fearless display across a dramatic day d

Georgia Gamble is a Senior Community Nurse with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, based between the Country Medical Centre in Armoy and Bushmills Health Centre as part of the Moyle Rural District Nursing Team. A Northern Trust community nurse has spoken about the importance of compassionate care, meaningful relationships and patient advocacy ahead of International Nurses Day next week. Georgia Gamble, a Senior Community Nurse with the Northern Health and Social Care

Kamil Holán The rider who lost his life following an incident during qualifying at the 2026 Briggs Equipment North West 200 has been named as Czech competitor Kamil Holán. The 48-year-old rider died after an incident during Thursday morning’s Superbike qualifying session at Station Corner on the famous Triangle circuit on Northern Ireland’s north coast. His death sent shockwaves through the international road racing community, with tributes pouring in from fellow riders, team

Dean Harrison takes North West 200 Superbike pole Thursday evening qualifying resumed at the 2026 Briggs Equipment North West 200 following the day’s earlier fatal incident, with riders returning to the Triangle circuit for shortened final sessions across all four classes. In difficult circumstances on the north coast, Honda Racing’s Dean Harrison emerged as the fastest man in the Superbike class, securing pole position for Saturday’s feature races after producing the quickes

A competitor at the 2026 Briggs Equipment North West 200 has died following an incident during Thursday morning’s Superbike qualifying session on the famous Triangle circuit. Organisers confirmed the rider suffered fatal injuries after an incident at Station Corner on the NW200 course, prompting the session to be immediately red flagged as emergency services rushed to the scene. The tragedy has cast a sombre shadow over one of Northern Ireland’s biggest sporting events, with

Members of the Northern Trust’s Palliative Care and Learning Disability Working Group pictured at an event to mark the launch of the bereavement information for adults with a learning disability. Talking about death remains one of life’s most avoided conversations—but a major regional campaign this week is aiming to change that, with new support, resources, and community events rolled out across the Northern Trust area to help people face it with greater confidence and compas

Aghanloo nature-based wastewater plant A £4 million wastewater treatment upgrade on the outskirts of Aghanloo is set to reshape how sewage is processed in rural Northern Ireland, with NI Water turning to a nature-led system that relies on thousands of reeds instead of energy-intensive machinery. The newly completed facility outside Limavady replaces traditional treatment methods with an eco-friendly process designed to cut energy use, reduce maintenance costs and deliver long